Chicago Cubs Draft History By: WISCGRAD

During the 1964 winter meetings, major league teams voted on the draft. Initially four teams opposed the idea, the , , , and St. Louis Cardinals. In the end only the Cardinals voted against the proposal and in 1965 Major League held its inaugural First-Year Player Draft, also known as the Rule 4 Draft. Initially there were three phases to the draft: a June phase for those college and high school athletes who had just graduated, an August Legion phase for those athletes who completed amateur summer leagues, and a January phase for those high school and college athletes who graduated in the winter. The August phase lasted only two years, and the January phase was terminated after 1986.

The Cubs did not draft a player in either of the two August drafts, but have participated in each January and June draft since their inception. In analyzing the draft history of the Cubs I have grouped all January and June selections of the same year, following how the data is organized at Baseball Cube. In total there have been 43 distinct draft years for the organized by nine different general managers. John Holland presided over the Cubs first 11 drafts. After the brief one-year reign of Salty Saltwell, manned the next five drafts, and (1982-1987), (1988-1991), and (1992-1994) followed. The second half of the 1990s was overseen by . Then after just two years of Andy MacPhail, took over in 2003 and remains the general today.

To date the Cubs have drafted 2,100 players. Many of those went unsigned, and while some were subsequently drafted by other teams and eventually made the big leagues, I only focus on those players actually drafted and signed by the Cubs. Of those, 197, or 9%, have reached the major leagues. Because so many of these major leaguers had short careers, I also noted those players who had significant major league careers, defined as five years or more. 94 players, or 4% of those drafted, fit such a criteria. These numbers will change as those drafted recently begin to reach the major leagues. The Cubs have developed the most big league compared other positions, although this is not surprising given the composition of major league rosters. What is surprising is the notable success in drafting and developing as compared other positions. The complete positional breakdown is below: Statistically speaking, the 1965, 1967, and 2000 drafts were the best at developing major leaguers with 23%, 21%, and 20% of those players drafted eventually being signed by the Cubs and reaching the big leagues. 2000 and 1967 are also the two best drafts for sheer number of big leaguers produced, with 10 each. Excluding recent drafts for which comparison is relatively meaningless, the worst draft was 1988 where only two of 45 players drafted by Jim Frey were signed by the Cubs and eventually made the big leagues, and neither Jessie Hollins nor Kevin Roberson can be considered a significant major league player. The number of players who were drafted and signed by the Cubs and reached the major leagues is shown below for each draft.

Despite a half-century of mostly mediocre teams, the Cubs have produced a fair amount of major league talent, although without completing a similar analysis of all other major league teams the achievements of the Cubs in the draft cannot be put into proper context. Nevertheless, the following is an All-Star roster of those players drafted and signed by the Cubs who played in the major leagues. Some players may not have played in the big leagues for the Cubs, but they began they were drafted and signed by the Cubs and began their careers in the their farm system.

C 1-Time All-Star, 1100 Hits in 15 Seasons 1B 3-Time All-Star, 4 Gold Gloves, Career .303 Hitter 2B Scott Fletcher 1376 Hits in 15 Seasons 3B 2002 Rookie of the Year SS 2-Time All-Star, 1597 Hits in 18 Seasons OF Oscar Gamble 1195 Hits in 17 Seasons OF Billy Hatcher 1146 Hits, 218 SB in 12 Seasons OF 5-Time All-Star, 396 HR, 1445 RBI, 2184 Hits, 231 SB DH 4-Time All-Star, 4 Gold Gloves, 569 HR, 1835 RBI

BN 1 Gold Glove in 10 Seasons BN Rich Amaral Career .276 Hitter Over 10 Seasons as Part-Time Player BN 821 Hits, 98 HR, 173 SB in First 9 Seasons BN 1171 Hits Over 13 Seasons SP Greg 8-Time All-Star, 4 Cy Youngs, 350 Wins, 3.12 ERA in 23 Seasons SP 1-Time All-Star, 221 Wins, 3.59 ERA in 22 Seasons SP 3-Time All-Star, 214 Wins, 3.37 ERA in 20 Seasons SP 2-Time All-Star, 174 Wins, 3.49 ERA in 15 Seasons SP 1-Time All-Star, 151 Wins, 3.38 ERA in 15 Seasons

CL 478 Saves, 3.03 ERA in 18 Seasons P 1-Time All-Star, 232 Wins, 4.22 ERA in 22 Seasons P 1-Time All-Star, 126 Wins, 3.76 ERA in 16 Seasons P 124 Wins, 3.74 ERA in 14 Seasons P Craig Lefferts 101 Saves, 3.43 ERA in 12 Seasons P Dennis Lamp 3.93 ERA in 1830 as a Reliever P 143 Wins, 4.35 ERA in 16 Seasons

Other Notables from Recent Drafts

C C Jose Molina 2B SS SP SP SP Rich Hill SP SP SP Todd Wellemyer SP SP SP Sean Marshall SP Sean Gallagher

CL RP RP RP Will Ohman RP Michael Wuertz RP Andy Sisco RP Justin Speier

A complete listing of all players who reached the major leagues who were drafted and signed by the Chicago Cubs from 1965-present can be found below. Each player’s position is noted, as well as his years of major league experience and the who drafted him.

Years of MLB Year Player Position GM Experience

1965 Ken Holtzman P 15 John Holland

1965 Joe Decker P 11 John Holland

1965 Ken Rudolph C 9 John Holland

1965 Garry Jestadt SS 4 John Holland

1965 Jim Williams OF 2 John Holland

1965 Johnny Hairston C 1 John Holland

1965 P 1 John Holland

1966 Joe Niekro P 22 John Holland

1966 P 8 John Holland

1966 Archie Reynolds P 5 John Holland

1966 Jophery Brown P 1 John Holland 1967 P 10 John Holland

1967 Earl Stephenson P 8 John Holland

1967 SS 5 John Holland

1967 C 2 John Holland

1967 Jimmy McMath OF 1 John Holland

1967 Gary Lance P 1 John Holland

1967 Darcy Fast P 1 John Holland

1967 Alex Distaso P 1 John Holland

1967 Jim Dunegan P 1 John Holland

1967 Pat Jacquez P 1 John Holland

1968 Oscar Gamble OF 16 John Holland

1968 Matt Alexander 3B 9 John Holland

1968 Rich Nye OF 5 John Holland

1968 Paul Reuschel P 5 John Holland

1968 Dave Lemonds P 4 John Holland

1968 Chris Ward OF 3 John Holland

1969 Larry Gura P 16 John Holland

1969 OF 11 John Holland

1969 Roger Metzger SS 11 John Holland

1969 Pat Bourque OF 4 John Holland

1969 Jim Johnson 3B 1 John Holland

1970 Rick Reuschel P 20 John Holland

1970 Pete LaCock 1B 9 John Holland 1970 OF 5 John Holland

1970 Tom Lundstedt C 3 John Holland

1971 Dennis Lamp P 16 John Holland

1971 Burt Hooton P 15 John Holland

1971 Jim Tyrone OF 6 John Holland

1971 Rob Sperring 3B 4 John Holland

1972 P 15 John Holland

1972 Buddy Schultz P 5 John Holland

1972 Mike Gordon C 2 John Holland

1973 Mike Krukow P 14 John Holland

1973 Dave Geisel P 8 John Holland

1973 OF 5 John Holland

1973 1B 3 John Holland

1974 OF 8 John Holland

1974 George Riley P 8 John Holland

1974 Mike Sember SS 2 John Holland

1975 Lee Smith P 18 John Holland

1975 Mike Anderson C 9 John Holland

1975 Ed Putnam C 4 John Holland

1976 Ron Davis P 11 Salty Saltwell

1976 Karl Pagel 1B 6 Salty Saltwell

1976 Keith Drumright 2B 4 Salty Saltwell

1976 Greg Keatley C 1 Salty Saltwell 1976 Herman Seqelke P 1 Salty Saltwell

1976 Kurt Seibert SS 1 Salty Saltwell

1976 Steve Davis SS 1 Salty Saltwell

1977 Dan Rohn 2B 4 Bob Kennedy

1977 P 4 Bob Kennedy

1977 Steve Macko 3B 2 Bob Kennedy

1977 OF 2 Bob Kennedy

1978 Mel Hall OF 16 Bob Kennedy

1978 C 2 Bob Kennedy

1978 Mark Gilbert OF 1 Bob Kennedy

1979 Scott Fletcher SS 15 Bob Kennedy

1979 Mark Huismann P 9 Bob Kennedy

1979 Dave Owen SS 6 Bob Kennedy

1979 P 4 Bob Kennedy

1979 Ray Soff P 2 Bob Kennedy

1979 Tom Grant OF 1 Bob Kennedy

1980 Craig Lefferts P 12 Bob Kennedy

1980 P 6 Bob Kennedy

1980 Frtizie Connally 3B 3 Bob Kennedy

1981 Joe Carter OF 16 Bob Kennedy

1981 Darrin Jackson OF 15 Bob Kennedy

1981 Billy Hatcher OF 12 Bob Kennedy

1981 P 3 Bob Kennedy 1982 Shawon Dunston SS 18 Dallas Green

1982 2B 8 Dallas Green

1982 Jeff Schwarz P 2 Dallas Green

1982 Jamie Allen 1B 1 Dallas Green

1983 Rich Amaral 2B 10 Dallas Green

1983 Jacob Brumfield OF 8 Dallas Green

1983 P 4 Dallas Green

1983 Steve Engel P 1 Dallas Green

1984 P 22* Dallas Green

1984 Jamie Moyer P 22* Dallas Green

1984 C 11 Dallas Green

1984 Dwight Smith OF 8 Dallas Green

1984 P 5 Dallas Green

1984 P 3 Dallas Green

1984 Greg Liddell OF 1 Dallas Green

1984 Laddie Renfroe P 1 Dallas Green

1985 Rafael Palmeiro 1B 20 Dallas Green

1985 Mark Grace 1B 16 Dallas Green

1985 Doug Dascenzo OF 9 Dallas Green

1985 Rick Wrona C 7 Dallas Green

1985 Kelly Mann C 2 Dallas Green

1985 Joe Kraemer P 2 Dallas Green

1986 Joe Girardi C 15 Dallas Green 1986 Rick Wilkins C 11 Dallas Green

1986 OF 10 Dallas Green

1986 OF 10 Dallas Green

1986 P 9 Dallas Green

1986 P 7 Dallas Green

1986 Pat Gomez P 3 Dallas Green

1986 Ken Ramos OF 1 Dallas Green

1987 Alex Arias 3B 11 Dallas Green

1987 Matt Walbeck C 11 Dallas Green

1987 P 10 Dallas Green

1987 Matt Franco 3B 9 Dallas Green

1987 Tom Thobe P 2 Dallas Green

Fernando 1987 OF 1 Dallas Green Ramsey

1988 Kevin Roberson OF 4 Jim Frey

1988 Jessie Hollins P 1 Jim Frey

1989 Dave Stevens P 7 Jim Frey

Dave 1989 P 3 Jim Frey Swartzbaugh

1989 Gary Scott 3B 2 Jim Frey

1990 Pedro Valdes P 5 Jim Frey

1990 P 1 Jim Frey

1990 Ryan Hawblitzel P 1 Jim Frey

1991 Steve Traschel P 15* Jim Frey 1991 P 11 Jim Frey

1991 OF 9 Jim Frey

1991 Ozzie Timmons OF 6 Jim Frey

1991 Robin Jennings OF 6 Jim Frey

1992 P 7 Larry Himes

1992 Mike Hubbard C 6 Larry Himes

1992 OF 5 Larry Himes

1992 Kennie Steenstra P 1 Larry Himes

1992 Chris Petersen SS 1 Larry Himes

1993 Jose Molina C 9* Larry Himes

1993 Brooks Kieshnick P-OF 9 Larry Himes

1993 3B 6 Larry Himes

1993 Jason Maxwell SS 4 Larry Himes

1993 Bo Porter OF 3 Larry Himes

1993 Steve Rain P 2 Larry Himes

1993 P 1 Larry Himes

1994 Kyle Farnsworth P 9* Larry Himes

1994 Javier Martinez P 1 Larry Himes

1994 Richie Barker P 1 Larry Himes

1994 Matt Williams P 1 Larry Himes

1995 Chris Booker P 3* Ed Lynch

1995 Kerry Wood P 10* Ed Lynch

1995 Justin Speier P 10* Ed Lynch 1995 Brian McNichol P 1 Ed Lynch

1995 Ismael Villegas P 1 Ed Lynch

1996 Kyle Lohse P 7* Ed Lynch

1996 Chad Myers 2B-OF 5 Ed Lynch

1996 Phil Norton P 5 Ed Lynch

1996 Courtney Duncan P 2 Ed Lynch

1996 Chris Gissell P 1 Ed Lynch

1997 Jon Garland P 8* Ed Lynch

1997 Scott Downs P 8* Ed Lynch

1997 Mike Wuertz P 4* Ed Lynch

1997 Randy Williams P 2 Ed Lynch

1997 Nate Tuet P 1 Ed Lynch

1997 Chris Piersoll P 1 Ed Lynch

1998 Corey Patterson OF 8* Ed Lynch

1998 Will Ohman P 8* Ed Lynch

1998 Eric Hinske 3B 6* Ed Lynch

1998 Dave Kelton 3B 2* Ed Lynch

1999 Ray Sadler OF 1* Ed Lynch

1999 John Webb P 2 Ed Lynch

1999 Peter Zoccolillo OF 1 Ed Lynch

1999 Steve Smyth P 1 Ed Lynch

2000 Todd Wellemeyer P 5* Ed Lynch

2000 Dontrelle Willis P 5* Ed Lynch 2000 2B 4* Ed Lynch

2000 Jon Leicester P 4* Ed Lynch

2000 Ryan Jorgenson C 3* Ed Lynch

2000 Jason Dubois OF 2* Ed Lynch

2000 Buck Coats OF 2* Ed Lynch

Carmen 2000 P 1* Ed Lynch Pignatello

2000 Larry Barnes 1B 3 Ed Lynch

2000 Jason Szuminski P 1 Ed Lynch

Andy 2001 Mark Prior P 5* MacPhail

Andy 2001 Sergio Mitre P 5* MacPhail

Andy 2001 Brendan Harris 2B 4* MacPhail

Andy 2001 Geovany Soto C 3* MacPhail

Andy 2001 Andy Sisco P 3* MacPhail

Andy 2001 Ryan Theriot SS 3* MacPhail

Andy 2001 Rickey Nolasco P 2* MacPhail

Andy 2002 Rich Hill P 3* MacPhail

Andy 2002 Adam Greenberg OF 1* MacPhail Andy 2002 Billy Petrick P 1* MacPhail

Andy 2002 P 1* MacPhail

2003 Sean Marshall P 2* Jim Hendry

2003 1B 1* Jim Hendry

2004 2B 1* Jim Hendry

2004 OF 1* Jim Hendry

2004 Sean Gallagher P 1* Jim Hendry

2004 Jerry Blevins P 1* Jim Hendry

*=Still Active